Mens wear for women who dare
Women have been borrowing clothes from men's closets for years. It was not until the 19th century that in the Western World, women started to wear trousers for labor work. And it became generally accepted into the world of women's fashion in the 70s. For some women wearing trousers was a sign of emancipation.
But I am not going to give you a lecture on Women and men's wear. I just want to talk about pieces borrowed from men that I enjoy.
The Trousers:
I cannot imagine that women back in the days could not wear trousers. I mean I love dresses and skirts to death but nothing is comfier than a nice pair of trousers. You could run, ride bicycle without fear of flashing someone. It is true that trousers nowadays have evolved to fit women better. They are shaped in such a way that they reveal curves...Some even go as far as being outrageously sexy. But they still have a favorite place in my heart. I love almost all kind of pants from the jeans (I own several pairs) to the slacks, cargo, wide legs, cropped pants and even (particularly) sweats. Once they fit your right, they are a marvel.
The Shirt:
Do you know why most shirts have two buttons at the bottom (that seem useless to you)? Well, it seems that back in the days, people use to button those and make a kind of jumpsuit out of the shirt.
I like men's shirt because they remind me of my Dad. He used to wear an uniform for work so he had tons of white shirts. And he even had a wider collection of colored shirts that he would wear for parties. I used to dream of stealing his shirts and I was lucky enough that he would give me some shirts (he received as presents) he did not need. From that moment, I had the feeling that there was nothing better than a crisp white shirt (or blue)
The Tie:
My dad once gave me a tie. But I am always hesitant to wear it. I do like it but I think that I am not fashion forward enough to be wearing ties in public. I think loose bow ties a la school girl would be more my style. But I think that a woman wearing a tie is kind of sexy and dominating.
The Vest:
Vests have been very popular recently. They made a comeback in men's fashion ever since JT brought sexy back. But they are also coming into women's wear. And they do not always stay in the preppy style. Many celebrities and fashion bloggers have been spotted wearing vests with maxi dresses or simple tees. As for myself, I do own two vests but I have yet to wear them. They are going to be my next challenge.
The Tailored jacket:
A men in a perfect tailored jacket is considered sophisticated, a lady in a perfect tailored jacket is absolutely stunning. She will turn heads wherever she goes. My mistake was to think that a tailored jacket was only reserved for work or a formal event. I am glad to realise that it is going in the streets, mixed with tees and skirts.
The oxfords:
I have coveted oxfords for a long time. I used to own a pair my Dad gave me (He did contributed a lot to my love of fashion more than my Mother, how funny). I would wear it with everything, particularly flower printed dresses. I just adore those shoes. Years later I found a similar pair in Seoul and I was bargaining the price when my husband intervene saying he was a greater bargainer than I was. Result: he ended up pissing off the seller who just shooed us aways from his stall. He promised he would get me another pair later. And to this day he has not. But I am not waiting for him anymore. As soon as I see a pair with the price I like I will indulge.
The Fedora hat:
Blame Michael Jackson for my love of fedora hat. He was so stylish in his white one in his Smooth criminal video. Fedora hats inspire much more than style to me, they inspire mystery. There is something about how you wear it that makes you look so cool and/or mysterious. I should wear mine more often.
The Trench coat:
Probably one of my favorite item borrowed from menswear. I dream of the perfect trench coat and I still have to find it. A woman wearing a trench coat oozes style and sophistication. And a little bit of mystery.
Some items borrowed from menswear did not make the list (polo shirts, boxers, watches anyone?). Yet that does not mean that they are not women' s favorite items nowadays. Sometimes, I wonder about the items men could possibly steal from us that they enjoy as much as we do what we stole from them. Any ideas?
PS: Well I thought this post was over but it seems like I forgot something. This is one of the most important menswear I used and covet to this day: the Sebago shoes (or Docksides). For those of you who do not know about these shoes, check the pic below.
These shoes were the bomb in the 90s back home. Any self respecting teenager and man owned a pair. Mind you some of them were fake but we did not care. Some girls even began to follow the trend. I had a blue one in my teens and then moved to a brown one in 2000. My husband owned a brown pair for more than 10 years that was falling apart. I remember listening to my guy friends telling me that Sebago shoes must be treated with love. The sole being white, it was not made for our dirty roads back home. That is why most of my guy friends would spend hours erasing the dirt with small erasers. Yes, erasers! That was how much they loved their shoes.
Some famous women wearing menswear
But I am not going to give you a lecture on Women and men's wear. I just want to talk about pieces borrowed from men that I enjoy.
The Trousers:
I cannot imagine that women back in the days could not wear trousers. I mean I love dresses and skirts to death but nothing is comfier than a nice pair of trousers. You could run, ride bicycle without fear of flashing someone. It is true that trousers nowadays have evolved to fit women better. They are shaped in such a way that they reveal curves...Some even go as far as being outrageously sexy. But they still have a favorite place in my heart. I love almost all kind of pants from the jeans (I own several pairs) to the slacks, cargo, wide legs, cropped pants and even (particularly) sweats. Once they fit your right, they are a marvel.
My fave: Boyfriend jeans @everythingex.com
The Shirt:
Do you know why most shirts have two buttons at the bottom (that seem useless to you)? Well, it seems that back in the days, people use to button those and make a kind of jumpsuit out of the shirt.
I like men's shirt because they remind me of my Dad. He used to wear an uniform for work so he had tons of white shirts. And he even had a wider collection of colored shirts that he would wear for parties. I used to dream of stealing his shirts and I was lucky enough that he would give me some shirts (he received as presents) he did not need. From that moment, I had the feeling that there was nothing better than a crisp white shirt (or blue)
Just too much trouble ironing it to get it crisp
The Tie:
My dad once gave me a tie. But I am always hesitant to wear it. I do like it but I think that I am not fashion forward enough to be wearing ties in public. I think loose bow ties a la school girl would be more my style. But I think that a woman wearing a tie is kind of sexy and dominating.
Colorful ties
The Vest:
Vests have been very popular recently. They made a comeback in men's fashion ever since JT brought sexy back. But they are also coming into women's wear. And they do not always stay in the preppy style. Many celebrities and fashion bloggers have been spotted wearing vests with maxi dresses or simple tees. As for myself, I do own two vests but I have yet to wear them. They are going to be my next challenge.
The Tailored jacket:
A men in a perfect tailored jacket is considered sophisticated, a lady in a perfect tailored jacket is absolutely stunning. She will turn heads wherever she goes. My mistake was to think that a tailored jacket was only reserved for work or a formal event. I am glad to realise that it is going in the streets, mixed with tees and skirts.
Tailored jacket at Zara for way too much
The oxfords:
I have coveted oxfords for a long time. I used to own a pair my Dad gave me (He did contributed a lot to my love of fashion more than my Mother, how funny). I would wear it with everything, particularly flower printed dresses. I just adore those shoes. Years later I found a similar pair in Seoul and I was bargaining the price when my husband intervene saying he was a greater bargainer than I was. Result: he ended up pissing off the seller who just shooed us aways from his stall. He promised he would get me another pair later. And to this day he has not. But I am not waiting for him anymore. As soon as I see a pair with the price I like I will indulge.
Oxfords at HM for less than 5000Y
Blame Michael Jackson for my love of fedora hat. He was so stylish in his white one in his Smooth criminal video. Fedora hats inspire much more than style to me, they inspire mystery. There is something about how you wear it that makes you look so cool and/or mysterious. I should wear mine more often.
Summer's trend: straw fedora hat
The Trench coat:
Probably one of my favorite item borrowed from menswear. I dream of the perfect trench coat and I still have to find it. A woman wearing a trench coat oozes style and sophistication. And a little bit of mystery.
Burberry Trench coat 2011 - (for a $1000 I do not have and would not use to buy it even if I had them. Still want it though)
Some items borrowed from menswear did not make the list (polo shirts, boxers, watches anyone?). Yet that does not mean that they are not women' s favorite items nowadays. Sometimes, I wonder about the items men could possibly steal from us that they enjoy as much as we do what we stole from them. Any ideas?
PS: Well I thought this post was over but it seems like I forgot something. This is one of the most important menswear I used and covet to this day: the Sebago shoes (or Docksides). For those of you who do not know about these shoes, check the pic below.
Pure perfection
Some famous women wearing menswear
Katherine Hepburn
Annie Hall or Diane Keaton
Ellen DeGeneres
My all time fave TLC: they made baggy pants sexy (needless to say that I follow that trend in my teens)
Comments